Welcome to the Xone

Its official, I will be one of the 2 Stroll Deans for Greekster's SILK & SMOOTH Competition this year at La Boom nightclub. Kind of excited to see the show and pass judgment on all the new strollers in the Zone. Can't reveal too many details, but TRUST its a sight you're going to want to see! Did I mention Keith the LUL will be my co-Dean?? See you there!

Dassit!

If you're a member of the Latino Greek World, you know that around this time every year your organization's best strollers disappear to train harder than Paciquao for a championship fight. These beloved members re-emerge mid-June to give their all for the annual Silk (& Smooth) Stroll Show. There's been much controversy the past couple of years about the judging of the show, whether or not teams actually adhered to the rules, and frankly some people are just tired of seeing the same teams win... or lose. However, this year Silk, on June 12th in Queens, NY, has up'd the antee. This year Silk has Maurica.

The phenomenon that is Maurica Rodriguez began as a video posted on Facebook walls that quickly went viral, and captured the hearts of the Latino Greek community. The character is the creation of Yannis Pappas, a NY native and a [literally] Greek stand-up comedian. The way he's captured the idiosyncrasies of a Latina transgendered woman from the Lower East Side is hilariously accurate. Now Maurica will bring her "classiness" to the Silk stage by co-hosting the show with Mr. Greekstand himself, everyone's favorite Upsilon, Raul Martinez. How much better can the show get? Well, there's going to be a Stroll Zone for neos, and those who still claim to be, new teams from all over the country, and the bar will be serving drinks ALL NIGHT. Tickets are on sale now for $10.82, I suggest you grab one fast before the show is completely sold out. If you want to make a night of it VIP packages are available for very reasonable prices. The show will no doubt have the audience saying WEPA all night long!

Queens Stroll for a cause

Last night I had the pleasure of attending the 6th Annual Gamma Stroll Show. I've attended each show since its inception, and performed the first three years on behalf of Chi Upsilon Sigma National Latin Sorority, Inc. Every year the brothers of Gamma Phi Sigma Hermanos Unidos Fraternity, Inc plan a great show that runs smoothly and starts "on time", which is a feat if you've ever been to a Greek event.

This year's show wasn't about fierce competition, but about raising awarness and celebrating a young life that was taken far too soon. Ramon 'Guatu' Baez passed away this summer from a rare form of cancer. His brothers dedicated the show to him, and raised funds for the American Cancer Society. Ramon loved to dance and stroll, he always performed with pride and determination, and always with a smile. His presence was felt with Chi Iota Pi exhibited a stroll in his honor, adding elements of Ramon's favorite dance; salsa.

Chi Upsilon Sigma won the show, thanks in part to theme creativity an tight execution. $500 will be donated to the I Have A Dream Foundation (our national philanthropy), and we retain bragging rights for another year.

Sprite Step Off

Whew! What a weekend! Packed with so many things to be proud of and hopefully for, especially with my organization. Supporting schools, raising money and walking for AIDS Research and hopefully a cure, AND placing 2nd in the Regional Semi-Finals for the Sprite Step Off in South Carolina! This excerpt is from out official Press Release:

New York, NY (10/16/09) --- Corazones Unidos Siempre, Chi Upsilon Sigma National Latin Sorority, Inc. (CUS) would like to congratulate Odette Fuentes, Vanessa Pabon Garcia and Talia Yanowitz for winning second place at Sprite Step Off Regional Semi-Finals competition this past weekend at the University of South Carolina.  The women have not only secured a spot in the Regional Finals on November 14, 2009, but also won $6,000 in scholarships! These three dedicated women continue to be the only team from a Latino Greek organization to compete in the largely Divine Nine competition. First place winners were Sigma Gamma Rho and third place winners were Alpha Kappa Alpha.

A Latin organization beat out other Step Teams considered to be bigger and better because of the roots and emphasis they have on the genre of Stepping. This win was not only HUGE for my organization, but for NALFO (National Association of Fraternal Organizations) as well. Latino Greek Letter Organizations are relative newcomers tot he Greek system, let alone the coveted world of Stepping and Strolling. My organization takes pride in being the FIRST Latin organization to embrace these forms of expression as part of our heritage, and Greek Life culture. Five years ago we revolutionized the Stroll game, and now...we're letting other Greeks know WE STEP TOO! We have and will continue the traditions we hold dear to us and continue to progress. See you in North Carolina!